Every year, there is an open call competition to win a spot to play at the Other Voices music festival in Ireland. The 2017 winner is Maria Kelly, a haunting talent from Mayo who has spent the past few years supporting acts like James Vincent McMorrow, Wyvern Lingo, and KT Tunstall. Today, Maria introduces herself with her latest single "Hollow".

The sparse instrumentation and deep drum tones leave a negative space on the track which allows her incredible vocal room to soar. Kelly's delicate lyrics (which I have found myself scribbling into notebooks in past weeks with the ardent desire to memorize them) are accompanied by a voice which possesses surprising grit; she is all at once tender and full of fire. Backed by the gentle hum of strings, the track is beautifully mastered and Kelly's high-caliber artistry is evident in every note.